2014 Fantasy Football: QB Rankings And Draft Strategy

Pressure is something you feel only when you don't know what you're doing." –Chuck Noll The recently deceased Hall-Of-Fame Coach originally made that statement, which also happens to be one of Peyton Manning’s favorite quotes. He has taken that to heart, and used it as a resource in his relentless efforts toward being thoroughly prepared for every game. That same goal should apply to you, as you plan for your fantasy drafts. One major aspect of your personal preparation will be ranking your quarterbacks, and determining where to target them. The QB position offers more depth than will be afforded at the RB and WR positions. Which allows owners to exercise patience, and draft a signal caller in the middle or late rounds, yet still receive an acceptable degree of production. Of course, the voluminous mountain of fantasy points that could be supplied by Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgersis an enticement toward eschewing that approach, and utilizing a pick within the initial three rounds in order to secure their scoring potential. Manning will depart the draft board in Round 1 of many drafts, with Brees and Rodgers possibly being selected as early as Round 2, but undoubtedly before the end of Round 3. There are certainly analysts who consider it anachronistic to draft a signal caller that early in the process, but I won't be quite that rigid. Because the temptation to choose a member of that elite threesome is based upon their collective history of exceptional results. I do recommend that you wait until at least Round 5 before drafting a QB, which will allow you to secure two RBs and 2 WRs while you still have a reasonable number of appealing options at each position. And if you can avoid taking a signal caller until at least Round 6, then your chances of fortifying a deep stable of capable backs and receivers are enhanced even further. But if you are committed toward targeting Manning, Brees or Rodgers, since they are so firmly embedded as the premier options at their positions, you should still wait until the bottom portion of Round 2 (and hopefully later) before choosing them. That will likely preclude your ability to draft Manning, but Brees and Rodgers should still be available.

Again, I am not encouraging any owner to reach for a QB that early during your drafts. Instead, this serves as a reminder to anyone who is enamored with the idea of having an elite signal caller that your level of investment will be significant. And that your roster will contain more firepower overall if you begin the draft process by seizing at least one RB and WR, then continuing that process for the first six rounds or more.

Recent statistical data certainly confirms that strategy, and at this point, you should be familiar with the surge in passing statistics during recent seasons. It has been a frequent topic in conversations about the NFL, and specifically for fantasy strategists. There is a gargantuan list of numbers to support the assertion that you can afford to wait before drafting your QB, with far less risk than what you will incur by failing to address your RB and WR positions early in the process. Here are just a few to accentuate that point, by comparing the total number of QBs who attained each level of yardage and TDs in each of the past nine years.